英语论文网

Another reason for using euphemism is that euphemism itself sometimes can be rather spurious and deceptive. Then this kind of character becomes a tool of some politicians and profiteers to cheat the society. They use euphemism to cover some evil incidents in our society. Such as scandal, war, crime, drug, racidism and decline. After the “Watergate” in America, the government created a lot of “plumbers”. This function of euphemism is also used widely in diplomacy and military.

3. Function for politeness

The other function of euphemism is for polite. We try out best to use some tactful words to avoid the hurt to others and show our respectableness, politeness, and consideration. In a civilized society, everyone needs to attach importance to politeness. In a way, the polite function of euphemism may be more important and useful in our daily life. If we want to fire somebody, we don’t use the word “fire” but use “discontinue”. “Professor” means “a person who teach in college”, but now we also call the bass or the magician “professor” to show respectableness.

Polite euphemism is used in almost every aspect in our society. We can sum it up into the following four sorts:本论文由英语论文网 www.51lunwen.org整理提供

1). To old men and disabled people

We often use “getting on (in years), past one’s prime, feeling one’s age, second children, golden years, senior citizens, longer living, well-preserved, seasoned, experienced” to express the meaning of “ole age, senility”; use “not all there, soft in the head, of unsound mind, simple-minded” to express “mad, feeble-minded”; use “a slow-learner, under-achiever” to express “a stupid pupil”; use “weight-watchers’ to express “fat people’.

2). To the low class in the society

We use “domestic help, day-help, live-in help” to express “maid, housekeeper”; use “captain, hostess” to express “hairdresser”; use “exterminating, engineer, pest control operator” to express “rat catcher”.

3). To poverty and unemployment

We use “discontinue, lay off, ease out, give the walking ticket, pink slip” to express “fire, sack, dismiss”; use “out of pocket, hard up, badly off, in reduced, circum-stance, in difficulties” to express “penniless, poor”; use “the have-nots, the underprivileged, the disadvantaged” to express “the poor; use “on relief, on welfare benefits” to express “living on dole”; use “welfare workers” to express “unemployed workers”.

4). To indelicate things

We use “go to the bathroom, do one’s business, visit the necessary, answer nature’s call, wait a minute” to express “to urinate”; use “men’s, Gent’s, W.C (water closet), the washroom, the John” to express “Men’s lavatory”; use “Ladies’, the powder room, Women’s, Mrs. Jones” to express “Women’s lavatory”.

The famous American writer Mencken called euphemism “gilded words” while Stephen Kanfer called it “cosmetic words”, these can be an exact explanation to the usage of euphemism. Managing this skill well could make our world full of gentle and fragrant atmosphere.